January 14, 2004
Believe it or not, one of the reasons I write this blog is to warn others who may be considering a venture down the dark path I’ve chosen. Case in point:

“I have decided to publish a magazine. I have also read your journal. I still want to go ahead with my project, but at least now I know I am insane.”

That E-mail, which came in yesterday, is worth all of the postings for the past year. Not that it’s going to stop her (none of my “advice” would have stopped me either) but at least she knows what she’s getting into.

I’m still trying to find the right image for the cover of the next issue (Are You An Old West Maniac?). Actually I could just run mug shots of most of my ex-friends and the point would be made in spades, but that’s probably too inside.

The rough cut of the Westerns Channel bumpers (A True West Moment) came in yesterday afternoon and we popped the tapes in and took a gander. The bits where I’m not reading off a teleprompter come off the best. Mike’s music needs to be more of a stinger on the intro. One of the head honchos at WC killed the “Hat Nazi” segment because she didn’t get the punchline: “Here’s a piece of advice to Hollywood costumers: If everybody’s wearin’ a big hat, ain’t nobody wearin’ a big hat.” Oh well. Probably too inside.

The bits start running on February 1, so you need to get the Starz-Encore package that includes The Westerns Channel (don’t feel bad, I let mine lapse also and need to re-up)

"Oh, by the way, the Boston gig has been canceled, but don´t worry about it. It´s not a big college town anyway."
—Tony Hendra, playing the band’s manager in Spinal Tap